Time switch for an electric signal device for alarm clocks



May 20, 1969 R. WOLBER ET AL TlME SWITCH FOR AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed July 6, 1966 Sheet m m w m Ve mvo r. m. 2 1 06 L WH A 1 n May 20, 1969 wo ET AL 3,445,612

TIME SWITCH FOR AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed July 6, 1966 Sheet 3 of 5 IN V EN TOR$ WWQ ere Z/MQW wa A JET May 20, 1969 WOLBER ET AL 3,445,612

TIME swITcH FOR AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL 3 or s DEVICE FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed July 6, 1966 Sheet INVENTO S R- W0 2561f BY Hcfflcl a v A 1 45 3,445,612 TIME SWITCH FOR AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ALARM CLOCKS Robert Wolber, Lauterbach, Wurttemberg, and Otto Hettich, Schramberg, Wurttemberg, Germany, assignors to Messrs Gebruder Junghans Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Schramberg, Wurttemberg, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed July 6, 1966, Ser. No. 563,227 Claims priority, application Germany, July 16, 1965, J 28,585 Int. Cl. H01h 7/08, 43/10 US. Cl. 20038 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Time-contacting switch mechanism for an electric signal device of an alarm clock having an adjusting shaft rotatably mounted in the plates of the clock together with a control casing on the shaft and a toothed segment mounted on the control casing longitudinally shiftable and rotatable with the casing. A collar and a spring are mounted on the shaft to urge the segment and the collar in a longitudinal direction on the shaft.

This invention relates to a time switch for an electric signal device for alarm clocks having a toothed segment mounted to swivel and controlled by the release mechanism of the alarm clock, said segment of which can be brought to mesh with a gear of the clock mechanism and which is in connection with a cam operating an electrical contact. Such an installation is known in itself but it has various disadvantages, and it is relatively expensive and takes up a great deal of space. Also, a relatively large amount of power must be generated for its operation.

The present invention has for an object to create an installation of the type mentioned, which with a simple construction and a small requirement of space will operate faultlessly and will make possible the creation of a multiplicity of signals. The invention has for a further object the provision of a toothed segment arranged on a casing which has been mounted longitudinally slideably and rotatably on an adjusting shaft of the alarm clock, said casing being pressed against a bushing of the alarm clock by means of a spring that acts in a longitudinal direction. Preferably the bush or sleeve is in contact with a spring acting in the direction of rotation, whereby a locking device has been provided which will lock the rotational movement of the casing and of the toothed segment, said device being triggerable through a longitudinal shifting of the casing. The locking device may consist of a securing spring and a peg or pin directed in the longitudinal direction of the casing and cooperative with the securing spring and having a length that the toothed segment will be in the same plane of the gear which is to be made to mesh therewith, whenever during. the longitudinal shifting of the casing the securing spring leaves or withdraws from the peg. At the same time, one of the parts forming the locking device will be connected with the toothed segment or the casing, while the other part has been arranged locally fixed.

Preferably the casing will have a trapezoid recess with which locally fixed peg or pin meshes, which brings about a limiting of the movement of the casing, whereby a limiting surface of the recess has been inclined in such a manner, that the casing will be turning into its starting position during a shifting against the spring acting there against in a longitudinal direction.

Further objects will be apparent from the following de- 70 scription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

United States Patent ice FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partly in section showing a general view of the contact time switch for the electric signal device, with the sleeve of the alarm clock in a position just before the drop,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly in section of the switch of the position of the parts after the drop of the sleeve of the alarm clock from the pin,

FIG. 3 is a perspective View partly in section of a portion of the switch of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the position of the parts shortly before the triggering of the first preliminary alarm,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the position of the parts after conclusion of the main alarm and prior to the return of the parts into their rest position,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken along the shaft of the alarm clock along the line V-V of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows, and 1 FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

The adjusting shaft 13 of the alarm clock is mounted in the usual manner in the operating or casing plates 11 and 12. The shaft 13 penetrates the middle operating plate 14 through a bushing 15 secured thereto, a control casing 16 being itself mounted slideably and rotatably therein, FIG. 5, said casing encompassing the adjusting shaft 13. At the rear end of the control casing 16, a toothed segment 17, FIG. 1, has been attached, and the front end of the control casing 16 adjoins the bushing or collar 18 of the alarm clock, which deviates from the customary form by a rising plane or cam 18a distributed over the entire periphery with the usual drop edge designated at 18b. The cam 18a and drop edge 18b cooperates with the peg or pin 19 attached in the usual manner to the shaft 13. The casing 16 is provided with a spiral spring 20, which has been inserted between the rear end of the casing 16 and the back plate 12. Additionally a spiral spring 21 has been secured between the front end of the casing 16 and a peg or pin 22, FIGS. 1 and 2, which latter has been attached to the intermediate plate 14. This spiral spring 21 tends to turn the control casing 16 in a clockwise direction, FIGS. 1 to 4.

A ge'ar 23a is secured to the alarm bushing or collar 18 and it mates with the hour gear 23. The adjusting gear 25 of the alarm clock has been attached to the shaft 13 with the aid of a bush or sleeve 24, said gear turning the alarm indicator 27 by means of an intermediate gear 26, Whenever the shaft 13 is turned in the usual manner by the adjusting knob 28 for the setting of the time at which the alarm is to signal or go off. A second drive gear 29, FIG. 1, meshes with a gear 30 on a shaft 31, which latter rotate counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow. The toothed segment 17 and 17a carries a safety spring 32 of which the free end has been made angular or detented and grasps in its rest position on a pin 33, FIG. 1, which has been attached to the back plate 12. A trapezoid recess with a vertical back surface 16a, FIG. 5, an oblique front surface 16b and surfaces 160 and 16d running axially, has been provided in the control casing 16. A rod or pin 34 secured in the fixed bushing or sleeve 15 meshes with this recess, as a result of which the rotating and shifting movement of the casing 16 is limited.

For closing the alarm circuit, there are provided contact springs 35 and 36, FIG. 1, which are controlled by a cam 17b, 17c, FIGS. 2 and 3, on the toothed segment 17 in the following manner. Beside the teeth 17a, which may come to mesh with the gear 30 in a manner which will be described, the segment 17 has on the opposite side as to teeth 17a, several narrow individual teeth 17b, FIGS. 2 and 3, and one broad tooth 17C. When rotating the segment 17 in a clockwise direction, then first of all the teeth 17b, one .after the other, will abut briefly against the contact spring 36, as a result of which preliminary signals are produced. When the broad tooth 17c meets the contact spring 36, then the main signal which is of a longer duration, will be produced.

in detail, the procedures during the release of the alarm are as follows. The gear 23a, which is driven by the hour gear 23, FIG. 1, revolves counterclockwise until the pin 19, secured in the shaft 13 of the alarm system, drops off from the sruface 18a of the alarm bushing or cam 18 at the edge 18b and until the cam 18 can be pushed forward by the force of the spring 20. The casing 16 also participates in this movement, whereby the long axial edge 160 of the recess glides along the fixed pin 34. The segment 17 is also carried along together with the casing 16 until it aligns or meshes with the gear 30. Shortly before this position, the safety spring 32 slides off the pin 33 and the spiral spring 21 effectuates a rotation of the casing 16 in a clockwise direction, whereby the teeth 17a and 30 will mesh with each other, FIG. 2. Since the gear 30 rotates counterclockwise, FIG. 2, the toothed segment 17 is rotated in a clockwise direction. The spiral spring 21 exerts a torque on the toothed segment 17, in order to largely eliminate a stress on the clock mechanism during the operation of the signal installation. During the rotation of the segment 17 in a clockwise direction which now follows, first of all the first teeth section 17b will come into contact with the contact spring 36 and will move it into the closing position together with the contact spring 35, FIG. 3. The parts are dimensioned in such a mannor that a closing period of approximately seconds occurs as a preliminary alarm, and after that a pause in the signaling of approximately seconds takes place until the second tooth of teeth 17b again closes the contact. After a further signaling pause, the third tooth of teeth 17b produces the third preliminary alarm. The broad Z tooth 17c only contacts the contact spring 36 thereafter and produces the main signal of approximately 20 seconds.

If during the further rotation, the segment 17 with its teeth 17a disengages from engagement with the gear then the segment 17 will be rotated by the spiral spring 21 into the position according to FIGS. 4 and 6, whereby this rotation is limited by the pin 34 engaging within the recess of the casing 16. The pin 34 now abuts in the corner of the sides 16a and 16d. By means of the hour Wheel 23 and the wheel 23a, the bushing or cam 18 is rotated further in a counterclockwise direction, whereby it will slide backwards with its inclined plane or cam surface, 18a, FIG. 2, along the pin 19 and, at the same time, carries along the casing 16 counter to or against the pressure of the spring 20. Whenever the pin 34 has reached the position shown in FIG. 5, then, during a further backward sliding of the casing 16, the pin 34 will glide along the inclined or plane 16b while the casing 16 revolves in a counterclockwise direction. At the same time, the segment 17 has already become disengaged from the gear 30, FIG. 5, and is now able to rotate with the casing 16 from the position shown in FIG. 6 in full lines into the position Shown by dash lines, whereby then its safety spring 32 again snaps behind the pin 33 and will hold the segment 17 in its rest position. The spiral spring 21 may follow the axial movement of the casing 16, since it has been dimensioned correspondingly. The hour wheel or gear 23 is so broad or wide, that the gear 2311 will always remain in engagement therewith.

The contact springs 35 and 36, FIG. 1, have been attached to the rear plate 12 by means of an angle bar 37, whereby the contact 36 has been secured to the frame, while the contact 35 is isolated away from it and connected with one pole of a battery 39 by means of a wire lead and the holding hand switch 38. The other pole of the battery is connected by a wire with the electric ringing or bell mechanism 40, which is in the circuit.

A toggle switch not shown, is preferredly provided for a hand switch 38, which can be arranged at the upper surface of the housing of the alarm clock. It need be,

.4 battery 35! can serve simultaneously also for the drive of an electric winding control of the spring of the moving mechanism or of an electrically driven balance wheel oscillator. These installations have not been specially shown in the drawings since their development does not constitute any part of this present invention.

The contact time switch according to the invention can be used in the case of any kind of clock mechanism, especially in the case of a battery clock mechanism. It can also be developed in such a manner that it is built onto the clock mechanism as an insertable aggregate or unit and it can be easily removed in case of repairs, without having to take the entire clock mechanism apart. In that case, the adjusting shaft 13 of the alarm mechanism has not been inserted at the available plates 11 and 12 of a clock mechanism, but it is screwed on in a special Work frame or into an angle member which has been bent U-shaped and which is screwed onto the clock mechanism laterally.

The hand switch 38 serves for turning off the ringing mechanism whenever after an awakening the running off of the entire signaling program is not desired. With it, it is also possible to disconnect the wakening (alarm) installation if it is not required at all. If one wishes to be awakened in the morning, then the evening before the switch 38 must be set into connected position. If it is not turned off during the rendering of the signal, then the entire signaling program will run off and after each 12 hours the signals will again occur. After 12 hours, therefore in the evening, it is true, that the signals will not be needed, but, because of the short contact time, one need not worry about a premature exhaustion of the battery by the electric ringing mechanism. The possibility also exists to assign the hand of the alarm 27 to a 24-hour alarm scale, so that the alarm bushing 13 will make one rotation in 24 hours. The signal program for the alarm will then take place automatically every 24 hours, insofar as during the rendering of the signal, the circuit will not be interrupted by hand by means of the switch 38.

It may be mentioned that by the proper dimensioning and selection of the teeth on the control segment 17 and by the speed of the segment, every desired alarm program can be determined and carried out. The segment 17 can also be brought into engagement with any other wheel of the moving mechanism.

We claim:

1. Time contact switch mechanism for an electric signal device of an alarm clock comprising casing plates, an adjusting shaft rotatably mounted in the plates, a control casing on the shaft, a toothed segment mounted on the control casing and being longitudinally shiftable and rotatable with the control casing on the adjusting shaft, a collar with a cam surface rotatably mounted on the shaft, a spring on the shaft urging. said control casing together with the segment in a longitudinal direction against the collar, a spring provided with the control casing in. contact with the last mentioned spring acting in the rotational direction, and a locking device provided for locking the rotational movement of the control casing and the toothed segment, and which can be actuated through a longitudinal shifting of the control casing.

2. Time contact switch mechanism according to claim 1, in which the locking device comprising a safety spring arranged alongside the toothed segment, and a pin arranged locally fixed and attachable by the safety spring and running in the longitudinal direction of the control casing, said pin being of such length that the toothed segment will be in the plane of a gear which is to be brought into engagement therewith whenever the safety spring during a longitudinal shifting of the control casing will leave the pin.

3. Time contact switch mechanism according to claim 1, in which the control casing is provided with a trapezoid recess into which a fixed pin meshes, to limit the movement of the control casing, said recess having a limiting surface inclined so that during a longitudinal 5 shifting against the spring, the control casing is turned into a starting position.

4. Time contact switch mechanism according to claim 1, in which the cam surface has an inclined plane extending 360.

5. Time contact switch mechanism according to claim 1, in which a cam of the toothed segment operates an electrical contact, and which consists of a pair of cam parts.

6. Time contact switch mechanism according to claim 1, in which a cam of the toothed segment operates an electrical contact, and which consists of a pair of cam parts as several narrow cam elements for producing preliminary signals and of a broad ca-m element for producing a main signal.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,335 11/ 1955 Hotchkin. 2,823,271 2/ 1958 Wagstatf. 2,976,377 3/ 1961 Jordan. 3,240,898 3/1966 Fischer. 3,365,957 1/1968 Knerr 200-38 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,695 4/1936 Germany.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner. 

